Planning for the Future of Chattanooga’s Past
Preserve Chattanooga is excited to launch a new historic preservation planning process for our community. This plan will help guide how preservation can be used as a tool to support Chattanooga’s growth while protecting and enhancing the places that make our city special. Most importantly, the plan will be shaped by the community itself through a process guided by preservation professionals.
A new preservation plan for Chattanooga is made possible through generous support from the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Tennessee Historical Commission. The process will led by the Walker Collaborative in partnership with Thomason and Associates and Common Ground.
FAQs
What is a preservation plan?
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A Preservation Plan serves as a blueprint for how our community will preserve, enhance, and interpret its historical resources, including buildings, objects, and places.
It is a guiding document that outlines shared goals, priorities, and strategies to ensure the protection and thoughtful integration of historic assets into the community’s future.
Why do we need a preservation plan?
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Chattanooga is growing rapidly. Without a shared vision, the places that define our city’s character can easily be lost.
A new community Preservation Plan will help Chattanooga:
Protect the places that tell our city’s story.
Use historic buildings as tools for housing, sustainability, and economic vitality.
Ensure preservation reflects the voices and values of the entire community.
Why should the community be involved?
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Preservation works best when it reflects the priorities of the community. Your support of Chattanooga’s Preservation Plan will help:
Identify the places that matter most to Chattanooga residents. Create practical strategies for preserving historic neighborhoods and landmarks.
Ensure preservation supports a vibrant, inclusive, and growing city.
Start your involvement by taking our community survey HERE.
Has there been a previous plan?
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Yes! In 1977, TOWNSCAPE was hired to prepare the Chattanooga - Hamilton County Landmarks Survey and Preservation Plan for the Chattanooga - Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission. The final document included history, archaeology, an architectural overview, neighborhood maps with descriptions, and an inventory of the most important buildings.

